Lose Weight Through Fasting

Ok, last week we started to look at Fasting To Lose Weight. We looked at the 3 main reason why we fast, then we looked at the different ways of fasting. Today we are going to start by looking at the pros and the cons of fasting to lose weight.

Pros of Fasting To Lose Weight

1. Rapid Weight Loss
2. Detoxed Body
3. Cleansed Colon
4. Live Longer

How much weight can I lose, I hear you say. Well a seriously obese person can lose as much as 5 or 6 pounds in the first day! But as the fast continues, the average loss will be around one pound-per-day. Still pretty impressive!

Whatever your original motives for entering the fast one of the most spectacular effects is the instant and rapid fat loss. This has multiple health benefits.

Much of the toxins stored in our body are stored in our body fat. Metabolizing the fat stores forces the toxins into the blood stream where the body processes them to be eliminated.

This elimination is not entirely done through the bottom end of the body, the alimentary canal and the urinary tract. A  major organ of elimination is the lungs. We will breathe out  a lot of toxins in our breath.

In addition you will also find a lot of toxins and other unwanted stuff will be eliminated through your skin. Extra oily skin and a few accompanying pimples and zits are a common side effect of the whole process.

So with toxins being expunged through one end or the other, don’t be surprised by the sort of questioning accusatory looks normally reserved for the family mongrel! What’s that smell? Rover, was that you?!

Ok, the new streamlined, clean-right-through-the-middle you has still more benefits to look forward to. Your super-clean colon, free of compacted faeces and other things you really don’t want to know about, is now so super-efficient that you need to eat less calories to absorb the same energy and nutrients as you did before.

You feel great, you have loads of energy and because healthy  people burn more calories, you can continue losing weight if you do it right.  Healthy people also eat less because they are more active and because they feel better about themselves they are less likely to need food as a security blanket or comforter.

The Cons of Fasting For Weight Loss

1. Can be dangerous
2. Needs strong will power to be successful
3. Causes your body to slow down your metabolism

Fasting for a day or two isn’t gonna hurt anyone who is in a generally healthy condition. However, fasting for long periods of time can be harmful.

Your body needs a variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food to stay healthy. Not getting enough of these nutrients can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, constipation, dehydration, gallstones and cold intolerance. Your immune system can really take a dive.

Know When To Stop!

Ok I’m not saying it happens every week, but fasting is serious stuff and it is possible to die if you fast too long. Even short-term fasting isn’t recommended for people with diabetes, because it can lead to dangerous dips and spikes in blood sugar. Women who are pregnant or nursing, or anyone with a chronic disease, also shouldn’t fast.

Before you go on any type of new diet, particularly one that involves fasting, talk to your doctor to find out whether it’s safe and appropriate for you. Also ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian, who can show you how to design a healthy diet plan.

Now even if the physical dangers are able to be overcome with sensible preparation and some knowledge, can you really imagine the amount of willpower it takes to see a fast through?

Jeez just cutting back on the things we like is hard enough, but giving up everything, for days on end?

Another drawback that accompanies fasting is the body’s own reaction to the stopping of food intake. In order to protect your body, your metabolism will be slowed to reduce the amount of calories that you burn and any calorie intake will be stored as fat as your body goes into self-preservation mode. Think Big Bear going into hibernation! Not exactly what you were looking for to help the weight loss program.

Tips & Warnings

Medical Check Up Advised

First off, preparation. Get help and advice. It is generally considered pretty much common sense to place yourself under medical supervision if you’ll be undertaking an extended fast.

If this is your first effort then it is even more important that you have a medical exam first and listen to what your doctor says.

If you are not prepared both mentally and physically you will find it nigh on impossible to go one day without food, let alone a longer term effort.

The mental preparation is simple, but vital. The night before the fast you have to take a firm determination that tomorrow you are going to fast, that you are not going to eat any food. Make the commitment and then focus on how you will feel once you have achieved that goal.

If you fix your mind in advance then you will not start deliberating during the fasting day whether you should continue or not to continue. If you are undecided or waffling you can always find a hundred reasons why you should start eating. Make your mind up before the day to commit to the fasting and then do it!

Physical preparation is also important. The day before you fast you should eat a normal amount of food and take a good amount of liquids (especially if you are going to be fasting without taking any liquids). Don’t be tempted to stock up the body with extra helpings to see you through the fasting, it just doesn’t work like that. And equally don’t be tempted to half-start the fast a day earlier, just eat normally and drink loads.

If you do not take enough liquids, especially during the night before the fast, then you will feel uncomfortable when you are fasting. Liquid intake is vital to keep your body hydrated and flush out all the crap you want to get rid of.

But, as vital as drinking water is, be sensible and spread out the liquid intake over the whole day. Believe it or not, drinking too much water too quickly can kill you!

If you are physically and mentally prepared you will be surprised to find that your hunger just “shuts off” for the fasting period. This sounds hard to believe, but once you have done it a few times you will understand what I mean.

Think Spiritual Not Food!

During the fasting period itself, it’s best to do light physical tasks and concentrate more on intellectual and spiritual work.

It is not a good idea to spend your time dreaming of cheese burgers or thinking about what you are going to eat tomorrow!

If you have prepared yourself properly this shouldn’t be a problem and you can use the time that you gain by not eating to do some constructive things that you normally don’t get time to do.

One of the benefits of fasting is that it helps to eliminate toxins from the body. However, you can only get this benefit if you break your fast correctly.

On the morning following the fasting day, take two glasses of lemon water. Put the juice of half of a lemon in one glass and add a bit of salt. (The drink should taste both lemony and salty).

After some time, you can eat your breakfast. The lemon water will help you to flush your digestive system with a strong bowel movement and many toxins will be eliminated.

Drink plenty of water, this cannot be over emphasised! Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and flush it clean and drink the water throughout the day not in binges. (See the warning above about drinking to much water too quickly)

Last but not least, don’t be a hero. Stop a fast and consult your doctor immediately if you experience serious side-effects, like fainting, disorientation or severe gastrointestinal pain. Come on people, we’re talking about losing weight here. Lets keep it all in perspective.

Conclusion

So there you have it; the Big 2 Slim guide on fasting to lose weight! In conclusion, my advice would be the following:

Great for rapid weight loss – possibly to kick-start a new effort if you have strong will power or maybe to lose that last stubborn couple of pounds that just won’t budge

Fantastic as a body detox and vacation period for the liver, kidneys and digestive organs. In my opinion probably the best reason for considering a fast. Combined with 100% natural Traditional Chinese Herbal supplements, I find this the best way to clean the body and give it a fresh set of batteries. You can feel it all doing you good!

Again, in my opinion fasting is most effective when used in short-bursts in conjunction with a balanced healthy diet and exercise program. It is not gonna magicaly turn you into a slimmer you, it still requires hard work. But it can help you lose weight rapidly and it can definitely help you stay fit and healthy.